Rosemont, Ill.—The Chicago Wolves scored twice in the third period to take the lead, but Oklahoma City answered with four goals in the final six minutes to seize a 5-2 victory Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Rosemont, Ill.—The Chicago Wolves scored twice in the third period to take the lead, but Oklahoma City answered with four goals in the final six minutes to seize a 5-2 victory Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Forwards Sergey Andronov and Pat Cannone produced goals for the Wolves (10-10-0-2), who lost despite outshooting the Barons 41-23.
“Different night, same story,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “We are just not scoring. And until we do start scoring consistently, the outcomes aren’t going to change.
Oklahoma City (10-12-0-2) opened the scoring as former Wolves defenseman Brad Hunt delivered a power-play goal at 6:34 of the first period. Andrew Miller brought the puck up the right side and fed it into the slot for Hunt, who banged his shot off the post on Wolves goaltender Jake Allen’s stick side.
The Wolves’ fusillade finally paid off at 4:27 of the third period when Andronov redirected defenseman Cade Fairchild’s blast from the left point. Right wing Tyler Shattock also earned an assist as Chicago held the puck for an extended time in the Oklahoma City zone.
The Wolves rode that momentum to take a 2-1 lead on Cannone’s goal at 7:59. Shattock flipped the puck from along the right boards toward Oklahoma City goaltender Ty Rimmer, who directed the rebound toward the left circle. Cannone anticipated the carom and punched his shot from the faceoff dot over Rimmer’s glove.
The Barons erased the lead when Miller swiped a pass at his own blue line and raced in for a crafty breakaway score at 14:55 of the third. Oklahoma City earned the game-winner 57 seconds later when center Roman Horak tipped in the rebound of Hunt’s blast from the near side. Horak and Matthew Ford added empty-net goals in the final 1:20 to forge the final margin.
Allen (9-6-2) saved 18 of 21 shots for the Wolves. Rimmer (1-0-0) posted 39 saves and one assist in his first AHL start of the year.
The Wolves host Oklahoma City again at 3 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
BARONS 5, WOLVES 2
Oklahoma City 1 0 4 — 5
Chicago 0 0 2 — 2
First Period—1, Oklahoma City, Hunt 3 (Miller, Rimmer), 6:34 pp. Penalties—Kessy, Oklahoma City (roughing), 2:58; Locke, Chicago (tripping), 4:54; Ford, Oklahoma City (tripping), 14:56; Regner, Chicago (holding), 18:41.
Second Period—None. Penalties—Kessy, Oklahoma City (boarding), 2:01; Kessy, Oklahoma City (fighting), 2:01; Edmundson, Chicago (fighting), 2:01; Rattie, Chicago (slashing), 2:16; Stretch, Oklahoma City (tripping), 2:32; Jaskin, Chicago (hooking), 3:14; Nesbitt (closing hand on the puck), 6:48; Davidson, Oklahoma City (roughing), 9:06; Cannone, Chicago (roughing), 9:06; Chorney, Chicago (high-sticking), 15:09.
Third Period—2, Chicago, Andronov 2 (Fairchild, Shattock), 4:27; 3, Chicago, Cannone 4 (Shattock, Andronov), 7:59; 4, Oklahoma City, Miller 3 (unassisted), 14:55; 5, Oklahoma City, Horak 4 (Hunt, Nesbitt), 15:52; 6, Oklahoma City, Horak 5 (C. Hamilton, Ford), 18:40 en; 7, Oklahoma City, Ford 7 (unassisted), 19:29 en. Penalties—None.
Shots on goal—Oklahoma City: 7-6-10—23; Chicago: 15-10-16—41. Power plays—Oklahoma City 1-5; Chicago 0-5. Goalies—Oklahoma City, Rimmer (39-41); Chicago, Allen (18-21). A—8,049. Referee—Ryan Hersey. Linesmen—Peter Cichy and Alex Stagnone.
